ENGLISH
REFERENCE

take the offensive

idiom
Meaning

To attack instead of defending; to be bold and proactive.


Examples
SIMPLE

It is time to take the offensive and win this game.

CONTEXTUAL

Instead of waiting for the competition to act, the company decided to take the offensive by launching a new marketing campaign.

COMPLEX

Recognizing that their defensive strategy had failed, the general ordered his troops to take the offensive and reclaim the lost territory before dawn.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    charm offensive

    A campaign of deliberately using charm and flattery in order to achieve some goal, especially in a political or diplomatic field.

  2. 02

    cross to take up

    Alternative form of cross to bear.

  3. 03

    forget to take one's medication this morning

    To be annoyed or irritable, or to behave in an ill-mannered way, particularly in the morning.

  4. 04

    give and take

    A process of compromise or accommodation.

  5. 05

    give someone an inch and someone will take a mile

    Alternative form of give them an inch and they'll take a mile.

  6. 06

    I take it

    Used to express one's understanding of another's position.

  7. 07

    kick ass and take names

    To beat someone in a competition, fight, or other situation.

  8. 08

    let nature take its course

    To permit events to proceed or a situation to develop without intervention or interference.

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